Tag: 2026

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Movie Review

God of Frogs (2026) Movie Review

God of Frogs – Movie Review

"God of Frogs" is a disjointed film about filmmakers confronting a spiritual group in a jungle, struggling with chapter breaks and character connections.

First Reaction – God of Frogs struggles with the chapter breaks, while trying to show a generation of connections.

Director: Adrian Bobb, Ali Chappell

Writer: Adrian Bobb, Matthew Campagna, Ali Chappell, Max Francis, Foad H.P. Ilana Haley (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Kate Vernon
  • Erika Prevost
  • Lynne Griffin
  • Corteon Moore
  • Sean Sullivan

Plot: Deep in the heart of the jungle exists an elemental creature with an eternal hunger. Once every quarter century it emerges to feed, and every time its fate is entwined with the same human family.

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: God of Frogs starts when a group of filmmakers head into the heart of a jungle. They stumble upon a group of people who have been living in the area and have a connection to an elemental creature.

However, they make a disturbing discovery that they have become connected to the bigger spiritual belief and chosen to become the name sacrifice.

Verdict on God of Frogs

Recap

The movie follows a group of filmmakers who make an unlikely connection with a spiritual group that worships an elemental creature. However, things spiral out of control when the truth about what they want begins to appear.

Best Parts

The creature design is creepy and disturbing. Elsewhere, the location works well to create the isolation feeling throughout the near by jungle.

Worst Parts

The jump between stories is less interesting to watch and never lets the dread full take over. Meanwhile, this struggles to give us a close enough connection to the characters, as the chapters break down the story too much.

Where to Watch

God of Frogs is on UK digital 2 March from Miracle Media

Final Thoughts –God of Frogs struggles with the broken chapters.

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Movie Review

The Martini Shot (2026) Movie Review

The Martini Shot – Movie Review

The Martini Shot is a slow-moving drama about an aging director confronting mortality while seeking meaning in his final project.

First Reaction – The Martini Shot is a slow moving drama, that struggles to step into the bigger meta concept of film and reality.

Director: Stephen Wallis

Writer: Stephen Wallis (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Matthew Modine
  • John Cleese
  • Derek Jacobi
  • Stuart Townsend
  • Fiona Glascott

Plot: This existential comedy follows an ailing movie director as he shoots what he believes to be his final work of art. What starts out as a normal movie, ends up being an exploration of mortality and one’s profound effect on the world.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Martini Shot starts when movie director Steve (Modine) prepares for his latest project. He runs his days like a casting session, and his assistant, Mary (Glascott), helps with the recasting project. However, his is face his own mortality and looks for the perfect final project.

As he journeys through his final time on this Earth, he wants to jump into an ambitious project. However, the journey takes him on an adventure of self-discovery.

Verdict on The Martini Shot

Recap

The movie follows an ageing movie director who wants to make a final picture. It involves him turning to his trusted cast members as he balances his vision with reality. However, he struggles to understand what is most important in his life’s journey.

Best Parts

The movie explores the journey people facing their final days on Earth go through. It shows how people want an ending they planned, rather than one they are left to go through. We get strong performances throughout, planning into the quirky characters.

Worst Parts

This struggles to express the full comedy and drama the movie wants to present. It feels more like a journey down a plain memory road, where everyone feel disconnected to the bigger picture. Elsewhere, we don’t see enough about the director’s career in the first place.

Where to Watch

The Martini Shot is on UK digital 2 March from Miracle Media

Final Thoughts –The Martini Shot is a slow journey of self-discovery.

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Movie Review

Lure (2026) Movie Review

Lure – Movie Review

First Reaction – Lure is a horror which lacks to pull you in past the torture games.

Director: Oliver Cox

Writer: Oliver Cox (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Silvia Presente
  • Kit Esuruoso
  • Joey Lockhart
  • Paul David-Gough
  • Gregory Fung

Plot: After being invited to a party by a mysterious and alluring woman, six men awake to find themselves part of a cult family’s gruesome annual tradition to find the perfect suitor.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Lure starts when a group of men, Tom, Joe, David, Marcus, Francis and Damien are invited to a party. Islay (Presente) is hosting a surprise for the young men, but it is more than they expected. She forces the young men to play a game with twisted rules and sadistic consequences.

However, her games bring the men closer, as they begin to understand what Islay wants from them. Can they solve it before it is too late, or are they doomed to become the latest victims in her twisted games?

Verdict on Lure

Recap

The movie follows a young woman who has captured a group of young men and has begun putting them through a difficult series of tests. However, they are unsure why they have been selected and her tests begin to show a much more twisted motivation.

Best Parts

The mystery behind what is happening is the highlight of the film. Elsewhere, the performances are strong for the victims involved.

Worst Parts

In the end, this feels more like a stranger torture idea. It often feels like the violence has no real direction, the games themselves feel tame an uninteresting. Nothing does anything to make you go wow, I want to see what happens next.

Where to Watch

Lure is on UK digital 2 February from Reel2Reel Films

Final Thoughts –Lure feels more like a twisted game without enough direction.

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Movie Review

Invisible Warriors (2026) Movie Review

Invisible Warriors – Movie Review

Invisible Warriors is a significant documentary highlighting the contributions of 600,000 black women in WWII, breaking barriers and transforming civil rights.

First Reaction – Invisible Warriors shows the important part the community had in the war.

Where to Watch

Invisible Warriors (TVOD Release 2/3/26)

Director: Gregory S Cooke

Plot: While World War II raged on in Europe, 600,000 black women served the country on the homefront, breaking racial and gender barriers by working in factories and offices.  Helping to win the war, paving the way for future generations, and transforming civil rights and women’s opportunities, their courage and resilience forever changed the American workforce.

Runtime: 1 Hour 4 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Invisible Warriors

Recap

The documentary explores the involvement of black women in World War II. It follows their work and racial attitudes that held them back. We hear lots of accounts of the troubles they faced and the support they received from unlikely places.

Best Parts

The documentary highlights the significance of the black community despite the limitations imposed upon them. It shows they fought for their country even if members of their country didn’t want them around. We get to see the different levels of support and the importance of changing things before the larger battle. This is an important documentary and teaches you the bigger impact of equality.

Final Thoughts – Invisible Warriors is an important documentary with a powerful message.

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Movie Review

A Gangster’s Life (2026) Movie Review

A Gangster’s Life – Movie Review

A Gangster's Life depicts low-level criminals scamming a mob, but lacks the impact and cohesion typical of its genre.

First Reaction – A Gangster’s Life doesn’t have the impact other gangster movies do.

Director: Zak Fenning

Writer: Roy Rivett (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Tony Cook
  • Jonny Weldon
  • Rina Lipa
  • Yannis Aivazis
  • Tomi May

Plot: When two low-level criminals scam a vicious London mob and are in over their heads, they flee to rural Greece to avoid the bloody repercussions. But escape isn’t that simple.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: A Gangster’s Life starts when two low level criminals Ant (Cook) and Dick (Weldon) create a system to scam a vicious London mob. However, it quickly catches up with them when Emery (May) and his gang capture them.

The friends must continue their operation to make the money back and prove their worth to the other gangster. However, they don’t know who they can trust before it is too late.

Verdict on A Gangster’s Life

Recap

The movie follows two low-level criminals who get caught scamming a ruthless gangster. They must rectify their mistake to help the gangster become richer, only to find themselves in a deeper hole than before.

Best Parts

The location is a nice setting for the movie, with the guys heading to Greece for safety.

Worst Parts

The movie struggles to adapt to what it wants to be. One minute, it wants to be a ruthless gangster story, the next, it has childish jokes. Nothing ever feels like they are in danger, despite the ruthless figure around everything. The movie wants to have something like Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or Sexy Beast, but only ends up feeling like it misses all the marks.

Where to Watch

A Gangster’s Life is on digital 19 January from Miracle Media

Final Thoughts –A Gangster’s Life struggles to have the impact other movies in the genre have.

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Movie Review

Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes (2026) Short Movie Review

Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes- Movie Review

Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes explores grief, mentorship, and emotional growth in a talented high school prospect's life journey.

First Reaction – Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes brings raw emotion to understanding tragedy in life.

Director: Marcellus Cox

Writer: Marcellus Cox (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Ruthie Austin
  • Stephen Cotfield Jr.
  • Duana Ervin
  • Eric McNair

Plot: A Talented High School MLB Prospect spends the day with his new mentor from the Big Brothers of America Program.

Runtime: 23 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes

Recap

The short movie follows a talented high school MLB prospect. He lives with his grandmother after the tragedy in their lives. Jamarcus has been signed up for a mentor program with Jasper in hopes of guiding him down the right path. We follow his latest session with the man who hopes to offer him guidance in this pivotal moment in his life.

Best Parts

The story delves into the raw emotion of losing a loved one and the guidance provided by parents. It shows how easily young people don’t want to open up about emotion, and the important part that mentor programs offer in helping express those emotions. The message is important, and performance carries the meeting, which will shape a life. Along with every review of a short movie, I ask the same question: could it be a full movie? The answer is yes, and it could delve into even more emotions and deeper backstories behind the motivation to mentor.

Final Thoughts –Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes is filled with raw emotions and an intense impact.

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Movie Review

Murder Between Friends (2026) Movie Review

A Murder Between Friends – Movie Review

A Murder Between Friends is an entertaining murder mystery.

First Reaction – A Murder Between Friends is an entertaining murder mystery, which keeps you guessing.

Where to Watch

A Murder Between Friends (VOD Release 1/13/26).

Director: Trent Garrett, Jacob Young

Writer: Mark Rozzano (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Joan Collins
  • Nadia Bjorlin
  • Toby-Alexander Smith
  • Jacob Young
  • Trent Garrett

Plot: A legendary TV star solves a murder mystery at her country estate.

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: A Murder Between Friends begins when a group of friends gather for a family dinner. Kat (Bjorlin), Sydney (Smith), Josh (Young), Alec (Garrett), Louisa (Vagneova), and Devin (Cotton) have secrets, but they appear to be having an enjoyable weekend.

However, when an unexplained mystery begins, the legendary TV star Francesca Carlyle (Collins) turns out to be the homeowner. She agrees to help the friend discover the truth about what happened to their missing friend and solve the mystery.

Verdict on A Murder Between Friends

Recap

The movie follows a group of friends who come together for the holiday. However, one of them is found dead, and a celebrity TV detective helps them investigate the murder. This only unlocks more secrets from the people’s past.

Best Parts

This offers a fun murder mystery story, with plenty of twists and turns. It keeps us guessing throughout and explores the secrets between friends. The performances are fun and bring out the positive and negative aspects of their characters.

Worst Parts

While the murder mystery is fun, it struggles to stand out from the massive number of murder mysteries out there. It gets caught between an entertaining chapter of a detective series and a standalone movie too.

Final Thoughts – A Murder Between Friends is an entertaining murder mystery.

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Movie Review

I Swiped the Wrong One (2026) Movie Review

I Swiped the Wrong One – Movie Review

I Swiped the Wrong One is a rom-com about four thirtysomethings navigating modern dating challenges, exploring life complexities and relationships.

First Reaction – I Swiped the Wrong One reflects the different world of modern dating.

Director: Laura Irene Young

Writer: Joe Fishel (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A typical rom-com with an atypical rom-com ending, I Swiped the Wrong One is the story of four thirtysomethings who attempt to navigate the world of 21st century online dating.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: I Swiped the Wrong One starts Amanda (Pfennigwerth) moving back in with her parents after her career spirals out of control. Elsewhere, Ashley (Moore) begins searching for a new man after a string of bad dates. The pair sign up to a dating app, where they meet two men Michael (Andrews), and Matthew (Zarzeczny), who are searching for new lives.

When the new potential couple meet at the same time, they make an unlikely connection. However, they struggle to understand modern dating and their lives, pasts and futures, making dating more complicated.

Verdict on I Swiped the Wrong One

Recap

The movie follows four thirtysomethings trying to navigate the dating world. They have reasons their lives are where they are, but hope to find someone to help turn things around for them.

Best Parts

The movie does a great job of reflecting the troubles with modern dating. It shows that the older you get, the more questions you have and the more doubt you have in yourself. Elsewhere, it reflects the negative sides of dating. The performances are fun and bring the characters to life. The romance is fun and shows you can find things in unlikely areas.

Worst Parts

Some of the comedy misses the mark, and we tend to spend more time with Michael and Amanda.

Final Thoughts – I Swiped the Wrong One is a charming romance that reflects modern dating.

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Movie Review

The Demoness (2026) Movie Review

The Demoness – Movie Review

The Demoness is an interesting series of encounters with a succubus trying to invade Earth.

First Reaction – The Demoness is an interesting series of encounters with a succubus trying to invade Earth.

Director: Andrew de Burgh

Writer: Andrew de Burgh (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A demonic succubus visits Earth to torment the human race.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Demoness starts when Sarah (Glanville) finds her marriage falling apart and gets visited by a succubus (Culbertson). It begins messing with their lives, forcing them into unusual demands. The creature has arrived on Earth to disrupt different lives and their involvement leads to different series of events.

Elsewhere, Steve (Nottingham) meets the woman of his dreams at an exclusive party. As the succubus adapts to life in LA, they start meeting more people they can use to infect with their methods. It leads to host of nightmare experiences for everyone they make contact with.

Verdict on The Demoness

Recap

The movie follows a mysterious succubus arriving on Earth and causing havoc in the local’s lives. It follows their journey to invade and destroy from the inside, following their bloodthirsty way.

Best Parts

The series of shorter interactions with different humans makes this an interesting horror. Each one shows the power the succubus has and how they find a way to the weaknesses in humans. It shows the random lives people live behind closed doors and balances the bigger effects in life. We get good performances from the whole cast, in their twisted worlds.

Worst Parts

Some of the attack scenes struggle with the effects impact. We have seen other movies which have inspired this movie like Terrifier land and much darker series of horrific attacks.

Final Thoughts – The Demoness is a disturbing series of horror stories.